Last chance for H1N1 vaccine from L.A. County

If you still need a swine flu vaccine, you may want to run out and get one. Los Angeles County is offering its last series of free clinics, which will end early next week.With the number of reported cases down nationwide and vaccine supplies up, health officials say it's time to hand the effort over to doctors and community clinics.

However, experts expect to see a wave of the virus during the holidays.

"The numbers are slightly declining, but activity is way above what you would expect at this time of the year, at least in terms of influenza," said Dr. Gil Chavez, California Department of Public Health. "It is very clear that we continue to see great disease, great morbidity, and that we continue to be at a very high level in terms of the pandemic."

The number of people hospitalized has reached a new state high. California state officials said nearly 800 people were admitted to hospitals last week, and 12 of them died.

The Los Angeles County Department of Education announced Friday that it will send more than 3 million masks to public schools to try to prevent the spread of the virus among students.